1997 CART PPG World Series

The 1997 CART PPG World Series season was the nineteenth in the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) era of American open-wheel car racing. It consisted of 17 races, beginning in Homestead, Florida on March 2 and concluding in Fontana, California on September 28. The PPG CART World Series Drivers' Champion was Alex Zanardi. Rookie of the Year was Patrick Carpentier. Mercedes-Benz won their first and only CART engine-manufacturer's title.

1997 CART season
PPG CART World Series
Season
Races17
Start dateMarch 2
End dateSeptember 28
Awards
Drivers' championItaly Alex Zanardi
Constructors' CupUnited Kingdom Reynard
Manufacturers' CupGermany Mercedes
Nations' CupUnited States United States
Rookie of the YearCanada Patrick Carpentier

After a settlement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, CART relinquished its license of the "IndyCar" trademark for 1997 and beyond. As a result, the series was renamed for the first time since 1980. The CART term, which had been mostly eschewed since 1992, was brought back and embraced, a new logo was unveiled, and participants were encouraged to refer to the machines of the CART series as "Champ Cars". The revival of the historic term (and curtailing the use of the mostly generic term "Indy cars") helped to differentiate the machines from those of the rival Indy Racing League, and was part of a concerted and necessary effort to distance the series from the Indianapolis 500, to which it no longer had any link.[1] This was also the last year of title sponsorship by PPG Industries, although the Driver's Championship continued to be known as the PPG Cup until 1999. This was the first season since 1983 not to feature Emerson Fittipaldi.

Drivers and constructors

The following teams and drivers competed in the 1997 CART World Series season.

Team Chassis Engine Tires No Drivers Rounds Primary Sponsors
United States Target Chip Ganassi Reynard 97i Honda HRR F 1 United States Jimmy Vasser All Target
4 Italy Alex Zanardi 1–16
Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 17
United States Marlboro Team Penske Penske PC-26-97 Ilmor-Mercedes
IC108D
G 2 United States Al Unser Jr. All Marlboro
3 Canada Paul Tracy All
United States Walker Racing Reynard 97i Honda HRR G 5 Brazil Gil de Ferran All Valvoline
United States Newman-Haas Racing Swift 007.i Ford XD G 6 United States Michael Andretti All Texaco-Havoline
11 Brazil Christian Fittipaldi 1–2, 9–17 Budweiser
Brazil Roberto Moreno 3–8
United States Team Rahal Reynard 97i Ford XD G 7 United States Bobby Rahal All Miller Lite
8 United States Bryan Herta All Shell
United States Hogan Racing Reynard 97i Mercedes IC108D F 9 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti (R) 1–16 Hogan Racing
United States Robby Gordon 17
United States Bettenhausen Racing Reynard 97i Mercedes IC108D G 16 Canada Patrick Carpentier (R) 1–14, 17 Alumax
Brazil Roberto Moreno 15–16
United States PacWest Reynard 97i Mercedes IC108D F 17 Brazil Maurício Gugelmin All Hollywood Cigarettes
18 United Kingdom Mark Blundell All Motorola
United States Payton/Coyne Racing Reynard 97i Ford XD G 19 Mexico Michel Jourdain Jr. 11, 14, 16 Herdez
Lola T97/00 1–10, 12–13, 15, 17
34 Brazil Roberto Moreno 1 Data Control
United States Paul Jasper (R) 2–7 Hype
Germany Christian Danner 8–9 Payton/Coyne Racing
United States Charlie Nearburg (R) 10, 13 Nearburg Exploration
United States Dennis Vitolo 11–12 Payton/Coyne Racing
Reynard 97i United States Charlie Nearburg (R) 14, 16 Nearburg Exploration
Germany Christian Danner 15 Payton/Coyne Racing
United States Dennis Vitolo 17 SmithKline Beecham
United States Patrick Racing Reynard 97i Ford XD F 20 United States Scott Pruett All Brahma
40 Brazil Raul Boesel All
United States Della Penna Motorsports Lola T97/00 Ford XD G 21 United States Richie Hearn All Ralphs
United States Arciero-Wells Racing Reynard 97i Toyota RV8B F 24 Japan Hiro Matsushita All Panasonic
25 Italy Max Papis All MCI
United States Team KOOL Green Reynard 97i Honda HRR F 27 United States Parker Johnstone All KOOL
United States Tasman Motorsports Reynard 97i Honda HRR F 31 Brazil André Ribeiro 10–17 LCI
Lola T97/00 1–9
32 Mexico Adrian Fernández All Tecate
United States All American Racing Reynard 96i
Reynard 97i
Toyota RV8B G 36 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio II All Castrol
98 United States P. J. Jones All
United States Project Indy Lola T97/00 Ford XD G 64 United States Dennis Vitolo 1, 3–4, 15–16 SmithKline Beecham
Germany Arnd Meier (R) 2, 5–6, 8–14, 17 Hasseröder
United States Davis Racing Reynard 97i Ford XD G 77 Brazil Gualter Salles (R) All Davis Racing 2
Indusval 15
United States Forsythe Racing Reynard 96i
Reynard 97i
Mercedes IC108D F 99 Canada Greg Moore All Player's

Season summary

Schedule

Rnd Date Race Name Circuit Location TV Broadcaster
1 March 2 United States Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami Presented by Toyota  O  Homestead Motorsports Complex Homestead, Florida ABC
2 April 6 Australia Sunbelt Indy Carnival  R  Surfers Paradise Street Circuit Surfers Paradise, Australia ABC
3 April 13 United States Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach  R  Streets of Long Beach Long Beach, California ABC
4 April 27 United States Bosch Spark Plug Grand Prix Presented by Toyota  O  Nazareth Speedway Nazareth, Pennsylvania ABC
5 May 11 Brazil Hollywood Rio 400K  O  Autódromo de Jacarepaguá Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ABC
6 May 24 United States Motorola 300  O  Gateway International Raceway Madison, Illinois ABC
7 June 1 United States Miller 200  O  Milwaukee Mile West Allis, Wisconsin ESPN
8 June 8 United States ITT Automotive Detroit Grand Prix  R  The Raceway on Belle Isle Park Detroit, Michigan ABC
9 June 22 United States Budweiser/G. I. Joe's 200 Presented by Texaco/Havoline  R  Portland International Raceway Portland, Oregon ESPN
10 July 13 United States Medic Drug Grand Prix of Cleveland  R  Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport Cleveland, Ohio ABC
11 July 20 Canada Molson Indy Toronto  R  Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario ABC
12 July 27 United States U.S. 500 Presented by Toyota  O  Michigan Speedway Brooklyn, Michigan ABC
13 August 10 United States Miller 200  R  Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio ABC
14 August 17 United States The Chicago Tribune Presents the Texaco/Havoline 200  R  Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin ESPN
15 August 31 Canada Molson Indy Vancouver  R  Streets of Vancouver Vancouver, British Columbia ESPN
16 September 7 United States Toyota Grand Prix of Monterey Featuring the Texaco/Havoline 300  R  Laguna Seca Raceway Monterey, California ESPN
17 September 28 United States Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota  O  California Speedway Fontana, California ESPN

– The Australian Indy Grand Prix was supposed to run 182 miles, but was shortened due to time constraints.
– Portland was supposed to be 193 miles, but was shortened due to rain.
 O  Oval/Speedway
 R  Road/Street course

Race results

Rnd Race Pole position Fastest lap Race Winner Race time Report
Driver Team Chassis Engine
1 United States Homestead Italy Alex Zanardi United States Michael Andretti United States Michael Andretti Newman/Haas Racing Swift Ford 1:38:45 Report
2 Australia Surfers Paradise Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi United States Scott Pruett Patrick Racing Reynard Ford 2:01:04 Report
3 United States Long Beach Brazil Gil de Ferran Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda 1:46:17 Report
4 United States Nazareth Canada Paul Tracy Canada Paul Tracy Canada Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske Penske Mercedes 1:53:31 Report
5 Brazil Rio Brazil Maurício Gugelmin Brazil Gil de Ferran Canada Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske Penske Mercedes 2:10:47 Report
6 United States Gateway Brazil Raul Boesel United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Canada Paul Tracy Marlboro Team Penske Penske Mercedes 2:37:54 Report
7 United States Milwaukee Canada Paul Tracy Canada Paul Tracy Canada Greg Moore Forsythe Racing Reynard Mercedes 1:43:32 Report
8 United States Belle Isle Brazil Gil de Ferran United Kingdom Dario Franchitti Canada Greg Moore Forsythe Racing Reynard Mercedes 1:52:45 Report
9 United States Portland United States Scott Pruett Brazil Raul Boesel United Kingdom Mark Blundell PacWest Reynard Mercedes 2:00:12 Report
10 United States Cleveland Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda 1:41:40 Report
11 Canada Toronto United Kingdom Dario Franchitti United Kingdom Mark Blundell United Kingdom Mark Blundell PacWest Reynard Mercedes 1:45:43 Report
12 United States Michigan United States Scott Pruett Brazil Maurício Gugelmin Italy Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda 2:59:35 Report
13 United States Mid-Ohio United States Bryan Herta Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda 1:41:16 Report
14 United States Road America Brazil Maurício Gugelmin Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda 1:57:54 Report
15 Canada Vancouver Italy Alex Zanardi Italy Alex Zanardi Brazil Maurício Gugelmin PacWest Reynard Mercedes 1:47:17 Report
16 United States Laguna Seca United States Bryan Herta United Kingdom Mark Blundell United States Jimmy Vasser Target Chip Ganassi Reynard Honda 1:41:38 Report
17 United States Fontana Brazil Maurício Gugelmin Canada Greg Moore United Kingdom Mark Blundell PacWest Reynard Mercedes 3:02:42 Report

(R) Dedicated road course, (O) Oval/Speedway, (S) Temporary street circuit

Final driver standings

Pos Driver MIA United States SUR Australia LBH United States NAZ United States RIO Brazil GAT United States MIL United States DET United States POR United States CLE United States TOR Canada MIC United States MDO United States ROA United States VAN Canada LAG United States FON United States Pts
1 Italy Alex Zanardi 7 4 1* 11 4 4 13 26 11 1 2 1* 1* 1 4 3 Wth 195
2 Brazil Gil de Ferran 22 5 21 4 11 3 7 3* 2 2* 25 3 6 3 3 5 6 162
3 United States Jimmy Vasser 3 12 9 5 9 5 3 4 19 13 7 24 5 8 2* 1* 2 144
4 Brazil Maurício Gugelmin 6 17 2 9 22 6 5 16 6* 15 6 6 7 2 1 9 4 132
5 Canada Paul Tracy 2 19* 7 1* 1 1 6 DNS 7 7 10 4 27 28 28 26 26 121
6 United Kingdom Mark Blundell 14 8 13 19 8 24 12 17 1 9 1* 2 26 16* 7 2 1 115
7 Canada Greg Moore 4 2 23 16 2 13 1* 1 5 24 23 27 2 18 17 24 13 111
8 United States Michael Andretti 1* 3 22 2 21 11* 2 2 8 23 4 21 8 26 16 27 19 108
9 United States Scott Pruett 5 1 3 10 3 19 9 24 17 8 5 14 9 5 18 16 7 102
10 Brazil Raul Boesel 17 7 8 8 5 14 4 6 3 16 8 18 4 21 6 8 20 91
11 United States Bryan Herta 10 22 6 7 6 22 15 7 21 3 17 5 24 11 8 6 21 72
12 United States Bobby Rahal 16 10 10 6 10* 20 11 9 24 5 9 17 3 6 24 19 5 70
13 United States Al Unser Jr. 27 27 4 3 7 18 20 8 25 4 20 20 22 7 5 11 22 67
14 Brazil André Ribeiro 12 6 14 26 15 10 26 25 13 14 3 23 10 22 10 4 17* 45
15 Brazil Christian Fittipaldi 26 28 4 6 11 16 21 4 9 21 9 42
16 United States Parker Johnstone 8 21 5 17 12 7 25 20 9 10 12 25 12 23 11 12 11 36
17 Canada Patrick Carpentier  RY  9 15 15 12 28 2 8 15 16 12 16 15 15 27 Wth 27
18 Mexico Adrián Fernández 13 11 11 23 26 8 24 27 10 17 14 26 23 12 19 23 3 27
19 Brazil Roberto Moreno 24 24 14 18 25 10 5 15 10 16
20 Brazil Gualter Salles  R  15 24 18 24 19 12 22 21 23 19 18 10 20 13 26 7 14 10
21 United States Richie Hearn 11 13 27 18 14 9 23 23 14 28 27 22 13 9 22 25 15 10
22 United Kingdom Dario Franchitti  R  25 9 12 13 27 17 16 13 26 11 26 19 11 25 13 13 10
23 Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio II 20 20 26 15 20 23 21 10 22 21 19 11 25 10 12 15 27 9
24 Italy Max Papis 19 14 25 22 13 26 19 11 28 27 15 8 14 15 20 14 12 8
25 United States Dennis Vitolo 23 DNS DNQ 28 7 27 20 16 6
26 United States Robby Gordon 8 5
27 Japan Hiro Matsushita 21 25 20 25 23 15 17 19 15 20 22 9 19 24 14 28 23 4
28 United States P. J. Jones 28 26 16 21 16 21 14 14 20 25 21 28 17 14 25 17 10 3
29 Mexico Michel Jourdain Jr. 18 18 17 20 17 16 27 22 12 18 13 13 18 20 21 22 18 1
30 Germany Arnd Meier  R  16 25 DNS 18 18 22 24 12 16 19 25 1
31 Germany Christian Danner 12 27 23 1
32 United States Charlie Nearburg  R  26 28 17 18 0
33 United States Paul Jasper  R  23 19 DNQ 24 Wth 18 0
34 Netherlands Arie Luyendyk 24 0
Pos Driver MIA United States SUR Australia LBH United States NAZ United States RIO Brazil GAT United States MIL United States DET United States POR United States CLE United States TOR Canada MIC United States MDO United States ROA United States VAN Canada LAG United States FON United States Pts
Color Result
Gold Winner
Silver 2nd place
Bronze 3rd place
Green 4th–6th place
Light Blue 7th–12th place
Dark Blue Finished
(Outside Top 12)
Purple Did not finish
Red Did not qualify
(DNQ)
Brown Withdrawn
(Wth)
Black Disqualified
(DSQ)
White Did not start
(DNS)
Blank Did not
participate
(DNP)
Not competing
In-line notation
Bold Pole position
Italics Ran fastest race lap
* Led most race laps
 RY  Rookie of the Year
 R  Rookie

Nations' Cup

  • Top result per race counts towards Nations' Cup.
Pos Country Pts
1 United States United States 252
2 Brazil Brazil 238
3 Italy Italy 198
4 Canada Canada 190
5 England England 115
6 Mexico Mexico 27
7 Scotland Scotland 10
8 Argentina Argentina 9
9 Japan Japan 4
10 Germany Germany 2
11 Netherlands Netherlands 0
Pos Country Pts

Chassis Constructors' Cup

Pos Chassis Pts Wins
1 United Kingdom Reynard 97I/96I 346 13
2 United States Penske PC-26 156 3
3 United States Swift 007.i 143 1
4 United Kingdom Lola T9700 45 0
Pos Chassis Pts Wins

Engine Manufacturers' Cup

Pos Engine Pts Wins
1 Germany Mercedes 316 9
2 Japan Honda 290 6
3 United States Ford XD/XB 230 2
4 Japan Toyota 15 0
Pos Engine Pts Wins

See also

References

  1. "Cart 1997". The Indianapolis Star. 2 March 1997. p. 46.
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